Hafasu Tiankeng

Part of the enormous Aouk Underground River is a giant sinkhole – Hafasu Tiankeng.

Hafasu Tiankeng formed when the ceiling of a cave above the Aouk Underground River collapsed. Later river found a new course – also under the ground – further to the north and Hafasu Tiankeng now is not traversed by the river anymore. Two passages lead to the Aouk Underground River from Hafasu Tiankeng – Wor’n Su towards the north-west and Bocca del Mostro (the monster’s mouth) – towards north-east.

Hafasu Tiankeng is some 800 m long and some 250 m wide, its walls are some 100 m high. Area of the sinkhole is approximately 142,000 m², volume – approximately 12 – 15 million m³.

Its size exceeds 100 m and also the depth exceeds 100 m – thus this sinkhole can be considered to be a true tiankeng.

Nearby are two more giant sinkholes: Kuom Tiankeng and Keek sinkhole.

References

1. Papua 2017 Aouk Underground River – Acheloos Geo Exploring, Petzl. Accessed in 14 January, 2019
2. Andrea Benassi e Ivan Vicenzi, Papua 2017 Aouk Underground River – Acheloos Geo Exploring, cronache ipogee. Accessed in 16 January, 2019
3. Il Tiankeng dell’Aouk, Speleologia Casolana. Accessed in 16 January, 2019
4. Graham Mullan, News: Exploring Large River Caves in West Papua, Darkness Below. Accessed in 16 January, 2019

Hafasu Tiankeng on the map

Location, GPS coordinates:	0.9558 S 132.3303 E
Categories:	Sinkholes
Values:	Geology, Visual
Rating:	(3 / 5)
Where is located?	Asia, Indonesia, Western New Guinea, southern part of Tambrauw Regency, Aouk Underground River
Alternate name:	Hafasù Tiankeng
Depth:	approximately 100 m
Volume:	12 – 15 million m³

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